Children’s Minnesota receives heart transplant certification

Launches heart transplant program dedicated to pediatric patients

MINNEAPOLIS (February 26, 2021) – Children’s Minnesota announced today that it received the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) certification of its Heart Failure and Heart Transplant program. Children’s Minnesota launched its heart transplant program in 2018 after receiving Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) certification. OPTN certification allowed the organization to begin performing heart transplants, and the first heart transplant occurred later that year. Children’s Minnesota provides cardiac care to the majority of pediatric cardiovascular patients in the region. The dedicated pediatric heart transplant program at Children’s Minnesota is among the most comprehensive pediatric cardiology services in the region.

“We knew we needed to add heart transplant capabilities in order to better serve and care for our patients,” said Dr. Erik Edens, medical director of the Heart Failure and Heart Transplant program. “Our program is dedicated to treating pediatric cardiovascular patients, we will now be able to offer the specialized expertise needed to care for patients throughout every stage of their journey.”

Learn more about Children’s Minnesota’s heart transplant program

Since the first heart transplant at Children’s Minnesota in 2018; six heart transplants have been successfully performed. The program also provides advanced heart failure therapies including medical management and ventricular assist device (VAD) placement which provides a bridge to heart transplant for children waiting for a donor heart to become available.

“Our cardiovascular program is dedicated to advancing the field of cardiac care through research and innovation,” said Dr. Robroy MacIver, congenital heart surgeon and surgical director of Transplantation. “We are proud of the team’s work to launch this program and look forward to helping children across the region in need of cardiovascular care.”

Learn more about Children’s Minnesota’s cardiovascular program

About Children’s Minnesota

Children’s Minnesota is the seventh largest pediatric health system in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children’s Minnesota serves kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, 12 primary and specialty care clinics and six rehabilitation sites.

Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrensMN.org.

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